The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-16

the shorter distance. The result has been that
Eastern sugar refners have been entirely
cluded from markets which, geographically be-
long to them upon all grades Of sugars made by
the San Francisco refners'
Other Business Before the Commission.
WASHINGTON, April 15.--The Interstate COM
mission gave hearing to-day TO the repre-
sentative of the Richmond, Fredericksburg
g. Potomac railroad, who made an argument i'll
favor of the suspension of the operation of the
fourth section of the act far as it applies to
that road, on account of the water competition
which the road has to meet
The representatives Of several roads running
eastward from Peoria, H., were heard in sup
port of petitions for the suspension of the opera
ton of the fourth section so far it applied to
the transportation of grain eastward. They set
forth the peculiar circumstances of competition
under which the Peoria market labored. both
with water lines and with trunk lines from Chica-
go and ST. Louis The statistics of trade and of
the revenues of the roads were given in detail.
A representative of the Cape Fear q adkln
Valley railroad. of North Carolina. made a brief
argument in support of petition to be permit
ted to meet competition at certain Junction
points
Hon. r. B. F. PIERCE, attorney for the Irdian-
apolIs. Decatur e. Springfield railroad, appeared
before the commission to-day and presented
petition asking for suspension of the fourth sec
ton of the law. He dwelt at some length on the
peculiar hardships inflicted on his road If that
section is strictly enforced, and made strong
showing for its suspension The petition has
been taken under advisement by the commits
sion
During the recess between the morning and
afternoon sessions the commission changed its
quarters from the rooms of the Geological Sur
vey to its permanent abode in the Sun building.
The published statement that the commission
has appointed a secretary is pronounced lncor-
rect as is also that to the effect that decision
was reached yesterday with respect to excursion
rates. No session was held yesterday, and no
decision upon that subject has been made
A large mum Der of petitions have been received
from theatrical people, asking a suspension OF
the law applied to the amusement profession.
and such an Interpretation of the law as will
permit railroad companies to grant reduced rates
as heretofore. The commission has replied that
it cannot presume to determine what the policy
of the railroads shall be in this regard This Is,
substantially. declination to make a ruling
npon the subject in advance of actual COM
plant alleging an infraction Of the law in some
regard.
long communication has been received from
the executive committee of the Chicago Freight
Bureau, an association composed of merchants,
manufacturers and the Board of Trade of Chi
cago. protesting against the suspension of the
long land short haul feature. especially as affect
ing the territory north of the Ohio and east of
the Mississippi rivers, excepting on Pacific coast
traffic, and that conditionally. The law without
such suspension is believed by the association to
be mot only best for the country at large, but
TOR the future successful operation of the law in
the territory named The temporary suspen-
sion of the provisions with regard to the South
was, in the judgment of the association, the only
practical solution of the difficulty presented;
but IL views with alarm the effect that decision
must have upon the carriers OF this section OF
the country in conveying perhaps, a tacIt, al
I'D bal, Of hat ilar alaf
will be granted in other sections of the country
where uncontrolled water competition can be
cited occasion for such relief" The COM
muncation continues: Surprising. for instance,
the roads running from Chicago to Buffalo were
to ask relief on traffic between the points named
on account OF lake competition. The carriers
would cite you to the fact thar the lakes afford
royal highway; that the government register
Of arrivals and departures of vessels from Chi
cAgo exceeded that of any other port in the United
States; that the rate for water transportation
between the points named was at a minimum as
compared with any other interior water naviga-
ton; and, supposing, for illustration. your hon
0rable board grant the carriers request and sus-
pend the long and short-haul provision. 1mme-
diately, upon granting such petition, the rail
lines leading from Peoria TO Buffalo would ap-
pear before your commission in person or by
petition, claiming justly, or otherwise depend
ing upon rates to Chicago and the rates east
ward from Chicagol, that all cereals produced
Jointly tributary to Peoria or Chicago
made by the lake carriers and the rate
the rail carriers from Chicago Buffalo were
authorized by your commission to make in com
petition with such carriers: and that in order to
meet this competition they, too. must be
allowed to charge greater rate from interme-
date points, On the same ground, the asso-
citation says, Rock Island. Hannibal, East St.
Louis and all intermediate commercial centers
would petition for relief in competition with
Peoria; and the Pennsylvania Company would
then come in with a representation that Pitts
burg stands in the same relation as does Buffalo
TO the cereal products of the West. The asso
ciation therefore, asks that the lopg-and short
haul feature be not suspended in any instance
until experience under the operation of the &C,
has proven thar feature to be detrimental to the
best interests of the country
Notwithstanding the number and Importance
o of the petitions already laid before the commits
sion, it has practically but one question under
consideration-that relating to the long and
short haul feature of the law.